The Syracuse Crunch-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rivalry added another layer on Friday as the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Brendan Mikkelson to a one-year, two-way deal.

Mikkelson played for the Syracuse Crunch in 2012-13, skating in 26 games in the regular season and playoffs combined and contributing two goals and two assists overall. W-B/S is Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, meaning if Mikkelson doesn't stick up top he could be a fixture in the lineup of Syracuse's divisional foe.

Earlier this summer the Crunch took a blueliner away from W-B/S by signing free agent Joey Mormina.